Peat Rehabilitation

Indonesian peatlands are one of the largest carbon stores on earth and play a significant role in the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Peatlands are also home to many endemic species of worldwide importance for biodiversity.

Peat decomposition as a result of drainage for agriculture produces continuous emissions, while peatland fires contribute infrequent emissions and rapid peat decomposition. Peatland is particularly flammable when it is drained and dried after the vegetation is cleared.

Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) made an important decision to stop any development on peatland regardless of depth in 2010. We also recognise the need to rehabilitate peat to improve the quality of the environment and reduce fire risk.

In November 2015, GAR launched the Peat Ecosystem Rehabilitation Project at PT Agro Lestari Mandiri (PT AMNL) in West Kalimantan.

Peat Ecosystem Rehabilitation Project

Following the 2015 fire and haze season, GAR has been involved in long-term rehabilitation of a peat conservation area of around 2,600 hectares in West Kalimantan that was damaged by fire.

GAR is collaborating with technical experts to rehabilitate the peat area to its natural state. Measures include restoring the peatland’s hydrology and water-table to reduce the risk of fire. As of end 2018, GAR has also replanted an area of around 200 hectares with 15 plant species. GAR is also carrying out Participatory Mapping and Participatory Conservation Planning with local communities in the area to ensure that they are involved in and support the rehabilitation of the area. Concurrently, GAR is working with the communities on long-term fire prevention through the Desa Makmur Peduli Api programme.